Control device for operating members



Sept 10, 1957 w. A. PATZER CONTROL DEVICE FOR OPERATING MEMBERS Filed May 14 195 I I WTOR.

ATTORNEKS.

2,805,745 CONTROL DEVFCE FOR OPERATING MEMBERS William A. Patzer, Chicago, lll., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Seth ii. Atwood, Rockford, ill.

Application May 14, 1954, Serial No. 429,719

12 Claims. (Cl. 192138) This invention relates to a control device for an operating member such as may be employed in a dispensing or a coin operated machine and the like and it relates more particularly to a control device embodying means normally positioned to block movement of an operating arm to effect a cycle of operation but which may be shifted in response to a predetermined condition, such as the pay ment of required coins, to release said operating arm for movement through its cycle, but which returns automatically during operation into position for blocking subsequent movement of said operating arm through another cycle of operation and it is an object of this invention to produce a device of the type described.

More particularly, it is an object of this invention to produce a control device of the type described for'use in combination with a machine having an operating member shiftable through a cycle of operation and which embodies means normally in position to block such movement but which may be shifted out of blocking position to permit movement of said operating member through a cycle of operation; which is returned to blocking posi- 3 tion automatically during the cycle of operation of said operating member for blocking movement thereof through a subsequent cycle of operation until again released; which prevents return of the blocking member to position for blocking the arm before movement thereof is sufiicient to insure that a full cycle of operation can be achieved, and which prevents return of the operating member after a cycle of operation has been started until the blocking member is returned to position for preventing an additional cycle of operation. 4

These and other objects and advantages of this invention will hereinafter appear and for purposes of illustration, but not of limitation, an embodiment of this invention is shown in the accompanying drawing in which- Figure 1 is a schematic elevational view of a structure embodying features of this invention;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the element shown to the left in Figure l for controlling the operation of the machine;

Figure 3 is an end elevational view of the structure shown in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a sectional elevational view taken substantially along the line ;4 of Figure 2 showing the arrangement of parts in their normal position;

Figure 5 is a sectional elevational view similar to that of Figure 4 illustrating the movement of parts toward unbiocking position, and

Figure 6 is a sectional view of a portion of the structures shown in Figures 4 and 5 illustrating the arrangement of parts during operation of the machine through a cycle of its operation.

While description herein will be made of a control device embodying features of this invention operatively con nected to a door or gate movable between a normal locking position and open position for access to remove an object, such as a bottle of a beverage or the like from a dispensing machine, it will be understood that the operer 2,805,745 I Patented S pt- 10, 1957 ating member of the control device embodying features of this invention may be connected for use with other types of control elements in dispensing machines coin controlled devices and the like which are placed in operation by movement of a lever arm or the like member, hereinafter referred to as the operating member.

As illustrated in the drawing, the numeral 10 indicates one of a pair of horizontally disposed gates arranged in end to end relation with a space therebetween adapted to be slightly greater than the wall to wall dimension of the neck of a pop bottle or the like but less than the dimension through the body portion thereof to prevent removal of the bottle or other container upwardly between the doors but sufiicient to enable the bottle to be displaced laterally into the chamber beneath the doors for removal from the machine when the doors are released for swinging movement to increase the spaced relation therebetween. Such movement ordinarily is effected in response to the application of manual force for withdrawing the bottle from the machine after the doors have been unlatched to permit rocking movement.

The cabinet in which such bottles of confections are contained is usually a refrigerated cabinet which contains a plurality of such containers having liquid content material of one or more different flavors and to which access may be had to the neck portions for guiding the bottles having the flavor desired into the so-called exit gate. While free movement of the containers within the cabinet is available for selection of the desired flavor by means of slotted runners through which the necks extend and which are interconnected with each other through a common runner leading to the gate, it is desirable to prevent removal of the bottles from the cabinet until the desired coin for payment has been inserted or until the bottle is otherwise intentionally released for removal and it is desirable also to prevent removal of more than one bottle from the cabinet in response to release upon payment for a single purchase.

For this purpose, there is provided a control device having an operating arm 20 fixed to extend radially from a shaft 21 mounted for free rotational movement in journals 22 and 23 provided in aligned openings in spaced supporting frame members 24 and 25. Fixed to an intermediate portion of the shaft 21 between the frame members Z4 and 25 is a disc plate or control plate 26 formed with different contours in the periphery thereof for effecting the desired control in operation of the arm 20. In one portion, the periphery of the disc plate is cut out to form a groove 27 having a sharp overhang 28 or stop shoulder facing in the clockwise direction of turning movement in normal operation. In spaced relation counter-clockwise of the stop shoulder, the disc plate is formed in its periphery with an extension 29 having an inclined forward edge portion 30 which functions as a cam for the displacement of a stud 31 extending laterally from a lever arm 32 when in resilient engagement with the periphery of the disc plate. In a still further portion of the disc plate, almost from the overhang 28, the disc plate is formed with a small series of rack teeth 33 extending outwardly from the'periphery thereof in position to be engaged by a pawl 34, which will hereinafter be described.

Cooperating with the disc plate 26 is an elongate curvilinear blocking arm 35 in the form of a lever pivoted intermediate its ends upon a shaft 36 which extends crosswise between the frame *members 24 and 25 and which is located forwardly and below the shaft 21 which mounts the disc plate 26. An inner edge portion of the curvilinear arm spaced upwardly from the pivot is turned laterally to form an ear 37 adapted normally to extend into thepath of the stop shoulder or overhang 28 to prevent turningmovement thereof beyond a very limited angle thereby to prevent movement of the disc plate 26 and the operating arm connected therewith in a cycle of operation. The lever arm is shiftable about its shaft 36 between normal blocking position wherein the ear lies in the path of the overhang 28 and unblocking position of adjustment wherein the ear is displaced rearwardly from the path of the overhang. It. is constantly and resiliently urged into blocking position with the ear 37 in the path of the overhang 28 by means of a spring 38 anchored at one end upon a shaft 39 fixed between the frame members 24 and 25 beyond the shaft 21 and which is anchored at the other end onto a stud 40 extending laterally from a portion of the arm 35 above its pivot 36.

To release the disc plate for movement in a direction to enable operation of the arm 20 through a cycle, it is necessary to rock the lever arm 35 to unblocking position in a direction opposed by its spring 38 to displace the car 37 from the path of the overhang 28. Various means for effecting such movement of the rocker arm may be employed. One such means operative in response to the insertion of coins for purchases or the like comprises a solenoid valve 41 rigidly fixed between the frame members 24 and 25 having a shaft 42 which is shiftable axially between extended and retracted positions of adjustment in response to activation of the solenoid 41. Actuation of the solenoid is adapted to occur momentarily in response to insertion of the proper coins and the shaft 42 is returned to its extended normal position immediately after momentary displacement by means of a coil spring 43 having one end bearing against the end wall 44 of the solenoid while the other end bears against a disc 45 fixed to an intermediate portion of the shaft 42.

A stud 46 on the end portion of the shaft 42 pivotally mounts an operating finger 47 which is normally positioned immediately in advance of an offset 48 on the lower end of the lever 35 when the lever arm 35 is in its normal blocking position. T o prevent rocking movement of the finger in the crosswise direction during movement of the shaft to retracted position thereby positively to displace the lever arm 35 to unblocking position while permitting the finger to rock forwardly to clear the lower 4 end portion of the shaft during immediate return movement, the finger is formed with an extension 49 on the lower end portion which engages the bottom wall of the shaft 42 beyond the slot through which the finger extends to prevent pivotal movement thereof in the clockwise direction beyond normal position. the finger extending into the .path of the end portion of the lever arm is formed curvilinearly to enable the lever arm to cam the finger for rocking movement in the counter-clockwise direction to clear the lower end of the lever arm 35 during return of the shaft to normal position. The finger is resiliently urged to return to its normal position upon clearing the lever arm by means of a coil spring 50 having one end anchored to a stud 51 depending from an intermediate portion of the shaft 42 while the other end is anchored onto a pin 52 extending laterally from a portion of the finger extending below the shaft.

When the solenoid is activated to displace the shaft 42 toward retracted position, the finger 47 operatively engages the end portion of the lever arm 35 lying in the path thereof to cause rocking movement of the lever arm 35 about its shaft 36 for a distance to withdraw the ear 37 from the path of the overhang 28 on the control disc. In order to permit immediate return of the shaft 42 to normal position without return of the car 37 into the path of the overhang 28 for blocking movement, of the op erating member, other means are employed fol-engaging the lever arm 35 to retain the'lever arm in its unblocking position until the control plate has been operated through at least a portion of its cycle of operation but which be comes automatically ineffective to release the lever arm 35 to return to blocking position after the control plate has been operated and before operation thereof is com: pleted so as to prevent successiveor repeatedoperations without makingithe necessary payment or the like.

The forward wall of For this purpose, there is provided the forwardly extending rocker arm 32 which is pivoted at one end upon shaft 53 fixed between the frame members 24 and 25. The rocker arm is resiliently urged to rock about its pivot in the direction toward the control plate by means of a spring 54 anchored at one end onto a shaft 55 fixed between the frame members below and rcarwardly of the shaft 53 upon which the rocker arm is pivoted while the other end of the spring 54 is secured to an intermediate portion of the rocker arm adjacent its lower edge. The arm is dimensioned to extend forwardly to the lever arm 35 and is formed with a laterally extending flange 56 on the end which is resiliently urged by the spring 54, into contacting relation with an upper edge portion of the lever arm 35 adjacent its rearward edge. The lever arm is also provided with the stub shaft 31 which is resiliently urged by the spring 54 into engagement with the periphery of the disc plate 26 normally in advance of the extension 29.

in order to prevent return of the operating arm and the disc plate to starting position before a cycle of operation has been completed, a pawl 34 is pivotally mounted on the shaft 55 and which in normal position lies in the path to be engaged by the rack bars 33 during turning movement of the disc plate in a cycle of operation. in operation, the pawl is engaged successively by the spaced rack bars 33 and it is displaced upon engagement by the rack bars in opposition to resilient means such as a coil spring 57 secured at one end to an underlying car 58 pivoted upon shaft 39 while the other end is anchored onto a portion of an extension 69 on the pawl forwardly of its pivot so that the pawl is resiliently urged to return upon displacement to engage the next adjacent rack and functions thereby to prevent return movement of the disc plate until all of the rack bars have passed beyond the pawl. When in normal position, the pawl may be displaced downwardly upon engagement by the rack bars during return of the disc plate to starting position. When in the latter position, the pawl is clear of the rack bars and is therefore capable of being returned by the spring 57 to its normal position in the path of the bars for engagement thereby during the next cycle of operation.

Having briefly described the elements and their location in the control device, illustration will now be made of the operation thereof. At the start, the lever .35 is in normal blocking position with the ear 37' lying in the path of the overhang 38. The lower end portion 48 lies in the path of the finger 47 on the end of the shaft 42 operated by the solenoid 41 and the laterally turned end portion 56 of the rocker arm 32 rests upon the upper edge portion of the lever arm 35, as illustrated in Figure 4 of the drawing. The pin 31 extending laterally from the intermediate portion of the lever arm is held a short distance above the periphery of the disc plate 26 in response to the engagement between the end of the rocker arm 32 and the upper end of the lever arm 35 and the pin is located in ad Vance of the extension 29 by an amount corresponding to the degree of movement necessary in the disc plate to bring the pawl 34 into operative engagement with the rack bars 33 or that distance which is necessary to provide for a complete cycle of operation before resetting of the lever arm 35. in starting position, the rack bars 33 are located rearwardly of the pawl 34 by a degree which is slightly less than the angular distance b tween the pin 31 and the leading edge of the oifsct 29 so that the pawl will engage the racks in advance of engagement between the pin and the extension. When the operating member is to be released for operation through a cycle, as in response to the insertion of proper coins in a dispensing machine, the solenoid 41 is actuated to effect withdrawal of the shaft 42. The finger 47 on the end of the shaft engages the confronting end portion 48 of the lever arm 35 to cause rocking movement thereof in the direction opposed by the spring 38 until the ear 37 is displaced forwardly from the path of the overhang 28. The solenoid is activated only mementarily so that the shaft returns automatically in response to actuation by the spring 43 to its normal position. During such movement the finger 47 rocks in a counter-clockwise direction about its pivot 46 to enable the finger to pass beneath the end of the lever 35 without causing displacement thereof so that the finger will return in response to operation by spring 50 to its normal position for again efiecting displacement of the lever arm 35 for a next cycle of operation. In the meantime, the flange 56 on the end of the rocker arm 32 rides over the upper surface of the lever arm 35 until the flange clears the rear wall thereof as the lever arm is rocked to its unblocking position. Upon clearing the end of the lever arm, the rocker arm is displaced downwardly by its own weight and by spring 54 until the pin 31 resiliently en'- gages the underlying periphery of the control plate. At this time, the flange 56 on the end of the rocker arm 32 obstructs return movement of the lever arm 35 to blocking position. This frees the disc plate 26 for turningmovement in its cycle of operation.

As the control plate is turned by the operating arm 20, the rack bars 33 engage the pawl 34 to effect displacement thereof in opposition to spring 57 so that the pawl becomes wedged within the valleys between the rack bars 33 to prevent return movement of the disc plate until such degree of movement is elfected as to clear the pawl from the rack bars 33. in the meantime, the pin 31 resiliently engaging the periphery of the disc plate is engaged by the leading edge 3% of the offset 29 which earns the pin upwardly onto the edge thereof and which concurrently lifts the rocker arm about its pivot by an amount to raise the flange 56 out of the path of the lever arm 35 so as to enable return thereof to blocking position. Actual return to blocking position is delayed until the disc plate is operated through its return cycle to enable the ear 37 to clear the overhang 28 to enable movement of the lever arm 35 to blocking position. Until then, the ear 37 rides upon the periphery of the plate during its intermediate movement in the cycle of operation.

When the rack bars 33 have cleared the pawl 34, the disc plate is free to be returned to starting position. During return movement the car 37 snaps into blocking position as it clears the overhang 28 and the rack bars 33 displace the pawl downwardly about its pivot until clear of the pawl which is then returned by its spring 57 to starting position.

When the control device is connected to a bottle dispensing machine of the type previously described, the operating arm 20 is connected as by a rod 70 to an end portion of an arm 71 which turns with the door it). As the door is rocked upwardly in response to withdrawal of a bottle or the like, the operated arm '71 is rocked in a direction to displace the operating arm 2i forwardly to actuate the disc plate through the described cycle of operation. During movement of the door iii to raised position, as indicated by broken lines in Figure 1, a bearing member 72 extending rearwardly from the dooris operatively engaged by a slide 73 which is displaced forwardly concurrently with the movement of the door to block the entrance slot of the chamber from which the bottle isremove-d to prevent displacement of additional containers into the chamber for removal. Return of the door to closed position causes retraction of the gateway to enable location of another container for dispensing during a subsequent cycle of operation.

It will be apparent from the description that the control device may be connected for use with various machines that are responsive either to the insertion of coins or which may be operated by manual means or by means of a remote control device. Upon release of the machine for movement of the operating member through a cycle of operation for use in vending an article or for supplying a service, or for coin control in operating a recording and playing machine or the like, movement through a cycle to effect a single operation is made avail- V 6 a V able with preconditioning during such movement to reset the blocking means for preventing another cycle of operation of the machine WithOlit first inserting the proper coins or again effecting whatever external control is necessary to release the elements again for movement through a cycle.

Description herein has been made specifically to a construction and to an arrangement preferred in the assembly of parts for use in operating a coin controlled device. It will be understood that changes may be made in the details of construction, arrangement and operation of the elements to supply equivalent movements and functions without departing from the spirit of the invention, especially as defined in the following claims.

I claim:

l. A control device for a machine having an operating member shiftable through a cycle of operation in the machine, comprising a control member mounted for reciprocal movement from normal to operated position and back with said operating member during a cycle of operation, means shiftable independently of said control member for movement between blocking position and unblocking position having a portion thereof in position to block movement of said control member when in blocking position and out of the path of said control member when in unblocking position, releasable means for displacing said blocking means from blocking position to unblocking position in response to external control, holding means separate and apart from said blocking means and mounted for independent shifting movement between displaced and blocking position, said blocking means, when in blocking position, operatively engaging said holding means to-hold said holding means in displaced position and automatically releasing said holding means for movement from said displaced to blocking position in response to movement of said blocking means from blocking to unblocking position, said holding means, when in blocking position, having portions lying in the path of said blocking means to prevent return of said blocking means from unblocking to blocking position, and means for displacing said holding means to displaced position out of the path of the blocking means responsive to operation of a control member through an initial portion of its cycle of operation thereby to permit return of said blocking means to blocking position.

2. A control device for a machine having an operating member shiftable through a cycle of operation in the machine, comprising a control member mounted for reciprocal rotational movement between normal and 0p erated position and back with said operating member during a cycle of operation, means shiftable between blocking position and unblocking position having a portion thereof in the path of said control member to block movement thereof when in blocking position and out of the path of said control member when in unblocking, position, means for momentarily displacing said blocking means from blocking position in response to external control, holding means, separate and apart from said con trol member and blocking means, mounted for rockingmovement from displaced position, out of the path of said blocking means, to blocking position, in the path. of said blocking means, to hold said blocking means in unblocking position responsive to movement of said hold-- ing means from blocking to unblocking position, means. for displacing said holding means to displaced position; out of the path of the blocking means in response to operation of the control member through an initial portion.- of its cycle of operation thereby to permit return of said blocking means to blocking position, and means for preventing return of said control member to normal position before release of said holding means to insure a full cycle of operation and release of said blocking means in advance of completion thereof to block successive cycles without external control.

3. A control device for a machine having an operating member shiftable through acycle of operation in the machine,,comprising a control member mounted for reciprocal rotational movement between normal and operated positions with said operating member during a cycle of operation, means shiftable between blocking position and unblocking position and having a portion thereof in the path to block movement of said control member when in blocking positionand which is out of the path of said control member when in unblocking position, means responsive to external control for displacing said blocking means from blocking to unblocking position, a holding lever, separate and apart from said control member and blocking means, mounted for rocking movement between displaced position, out of the path of saidblocking means, to blocking position, in the path of said blocking means, to hold said blocking means in unblocking position responsive to movement of the blocking means from blocking to unblocking position, means for displacing said holding lever to displaced position responsive to operation of the control member through an initial portion of its cycle of operation thereby to permit return of saidblocking means to blocking position, and means for preventing return of said control member to normal position before release of said holding means.

4. A control device for a machine having an operating member shiftable through a cycle of operation in the machine, comprisinga control member mounted for reciprocal rotational, movement between normal and operated positions with said operating member during a cycle of operation, blocking means shiftable between blocking and unblocking positions having a portion thereof in the path to block movement of said control member when in blocking position and out of the path to permit movement of said control member from normal to operated position when in unblocking position, means constantly urging said blocking means. toward normal blocking position, means momentarily shiftable from normal to retracted, position, for displacing said blocking means from blocking position in response to external control, a holding lever, separate and apart from said control member and said blocking means, mounted for rocking movement between a displaced position, out

of the path of said blocking means, to blocking position,

in the path of said blocking means, to hold said blocking means in unblocking position responsive to movement thereof from blocking to unblocking position, and means for displacing said holding lever from blocking to displaced position responsive to operation of the control member through an initial portion of its cycle of operation.

5. A control device as claimed in claim 3 in which the blocking means comprises a lever arm mounted for rocking movement between blocking and unblocking position and having a portion lying in the path of the externally controlled means for engagement thereby to displace the blocking lever from blocking to unblocking position and having an extension from one portion thereof lying in the path of the control member when in blocking position to prevent movement thereof from normal position.

6. A control device for a machine having an operating member shiftable through a cycle of operation in the machine, comprising a control member mounted for reciprocal shifting movement between normal and operated position of adjustment with said operating member during a cycle of operation, means shiftable between blocking position and, unblocking position having a portion thereof in the path of the control member to block movement thereof from normal position when in blocking position and out of the path of the control member to permit movement thereof when in unblocking position, means resiliently urging said blocking means toward normal blocking position, means momentarily shiftablelinearly from normal to retracted position of adjustment in response to external control, means on said latter means operatively engaging the blocking means during movement to displace said blocking means from blocking position to nnblocking position, means separate and apart from said blocking means and control member, shiftable between blocking and unblocking position for releasably holding said blocking means in unblocking position upon movement thereof to blocking position in response to movement thereof to unblocking position, and means for releasing said holding means responsive to movement of the control member through an initial portion of its cycle of operation.

7. A control device as claimed in claim 6 which includes means constantly urging said momentarily shiftablc means for immediate return from retracted to normal position.

8. A control device as claimed in claim 6 which includes means on said momentarily shiftable means for bypassing the blocking means without operative engagement during return movement to normal position.

9. A control device as claimed in claim 8 which includes means constantly urging said lever arm toward blocking position.

10. A control device as claimed in claim 1 in which the means for releasably holding said blocking means comprises a lever arm shiftable between displaced and blocking position having a portion lying on the blocking means when in displaced position to enable free movement of said blocking means to blocking position and a portion which lies in the path of the blocking means when in blocking position to prevent return of said blocking means to blocking position, and means for displacing the lever arm from blocking to displaced position responsive to movement of the control member through an initial portion of its cycle of operation.

11. A control device as claimed in claim 10 in which the control member is formed with a cam sector on the periphery thereof and in which a pin extends laterally from said lever arm into resilient engagement with the periphery of the control member when in blocking position whereby the lever arm is cammed out of blocking position upon operative engagement between the pin and the cam sector during movement of the control member.

12. A control device as claimed in claim 2 in which the means for preventing return of said control member to normal position before release of said holding means comprises rack teeth on the periphery of the control member and a pawl pivotally mounted independent thereof having an edge portion lying in the path of said rack teeth for engagement thereby during movement of the control member through a portion of its cycle of operation sufficient to release said holding means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,090,444 Barnard Mar. 17, 1914 2,325,102 Boschen July 27, 1943 2,328,653 Lake et al Sept. 7, 1943 2,436,112 Machado Feb. 17, 1948 2,475,432 Marihart July 5, 1949 

